DR ‹ › Forbes Africa has published, Tuesday, a list spotlighting Morocco's most influential soft power ambassadors, figures whose careers in culture, sports, science, business and the arts help shape international perceptions of the Kingdom well beyond its borders. The ranking brings together Moroccan and Moroccan-descendant personalities with global reach across diverse fields. Among them is Rachid Yazami, the Moroccan physicist behind the graphite anode used in lithium-ion batteries, a breakthrough that underpins today's smartphones, electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems. The cultural sphere is represented by major names such as Jamel Debbouze and Gad Elmaleh, two of the most internationally recognised comedians of Moroccan origin. Writer Tahar Ben Jelloun, a Prix Goncourt laureate, and novelist Leïla Slimani, also a Goncourt winner, feature for their influential literary work. In music and entertainment, Forbes Africa highlights French Montana, the Moroccan-American rapper and entrepreneur with a global hip-hop career, as well as actor Assaad Bouab, who has appeared in major international productions and television series, including in the US and Europe. The sports world is represented by Badr Hari, one of the most prominent figures in international kickboxing, and Achraf Hakimi, Morocco's star footballer and a key figure for both Paris Saint-Germain and the national team. The list also includes Jamal El Karkouri, an architect known for blending contemporary design with Moroccan cultural references, and Bouchra Réjani, a leading media executive and producer whose work in television and audiovisual content spans Europe, the Middle East and Africa. According to Forbes Africa, these figures collectively embody a modern Moroccan soft power, projecting an image of the Kingdom that is innovative, diverse and globally connected, one shaped as much by cultural influence and individual excellence as by traditional diplomacy.
